Levine: Big Offseason Moves Spice Up Cubs-White Sox Rivalry
By Bruce Levine--
GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) -- As the two Chicago baseball teams gear up for the regular season, the initial look at this year's crosstown rivalry begins this afternoon when the White Sox host the Cubs in Glendale.
Regular-season matchups failed to produce a sellout the past two seasons on either side of town, taking some of the luster off the rivalry as both teams also struggled. Nonetheless, the players and fan bases believe these games carry extra significance.
White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija will experience his first crosstown game from the South Side perspective. After pitching for the Cubs from 2008 through mid-2014, Samardizja came to the White Sox in a trade from the Athletics in December.
"Rivalry games are always fun," Samardzija said. "You always got the same feeling if it was the White Sox or the Cardinals. It was always heated. In Oakland, it was always a big deal when they played the Giants. Really in the grand scheme of things, they really don't count anymore than the other games on the schedule. Every game is so important in the big leagues. You see at the end of the season, it comes down to a game or two, so you need to win them all."
Prior to 2005, Cubs fans seemed indifferent to the trials and tribulations of White Sox nation. Since the White Sox claimed a a World Series title, it appears a new sensitivity has Cubs fans loathing the White Sox success and fan base more than ever. Samardzija will now be a focal point for both fan bases after switching sides.
Both teams had 73-89 season records in 2014, and big moves by each front office have experts projecting both teams as playoff contenders.
"Within the two teams, you always want to win a game between your hometown rival," Samardzija said. "I think from dugout to dugout the ames will be just as intense as they were before. The last two years maybe it was possible there was not the outside attention that (both teams) once got."
This season, you can once again expect sellouts for the energy-infused rivalry during the season. Both spring training matchups have long been sold out.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.